Chinese Folk Drawing of Mythical Qilin, c. 1900

Since the 12th century, people in China have used folding screens and doors to partition and decorate their homes - the vivid scenes backing the screens added life and color to a room. This 19th-century painting is delicately brushed of gouache and ink on fabric and was originally part of a set of eight backing a wooden screen in northern China. The figure depicted is one of the mythical Eight Immortals of Taoism. Said to have attained immortality through their studies of the natural world, each of the Eight Immortals represents a different condition in life and together they impart a blessing of prosperity and longevity. Depicted here is immortal Lan Caihe, the patron saint of florists and gardeners. Standing atop a lotus leaf in open water, they hold a gardening hoe in one hand and a basket for flowers...

Since the 12th century, people in China have used folding screens and doors to partition and decorate their homes - the vivid scenes backing the screens added life and color to a roo...

Since the 12th century, people in China have used folding screens and doors to partition and decorate their homes - the vivid scenes backing the screens added life and color to a roo...

In celebration of the lunar New Year festival, it was traditional all over China to hang special decorations. In a city called Wuqiang, local artists made lacquer scroll paintings laden with symbolism. This framed and finely rendered early 20th century folk painting from Wuqiang features an imperial court official and his family dressed in their best silks. The young boy is dressed in a wonderfully patterned yellow robe to offer Shou Xing...

A woven silk kesi qilin panel, Qing Dynasty, Shunzhi to Kangxu period, circa 1660. Panel with gilt thread archivally framed with glazing under fillet and exposed silk mat. sight: 21...

Originally purchased from Hong Kong, this Chinese antique embroidery presented in a museum quality. This textile was a roundel design likely from the center front of a noble woman's...

Originally purchased from Hong Kong, this Chinese antique embroidery presented in a museum quality. This textile was a roundel design likely from the center front of a noble woman's...

Charming Chinese painting, 18th century Measures: H. 32 W. 45 cm H. 12.5 W. 17.7 in.